TRIGGER WARNING!
This website contains poetry and true stories about trauma, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, self-harming, depression and other significant mental health issues, as well as personal stories of emotional neglect and physical and sexual abuse, which some people might find disturbing.
Please donate. ALL donations go towards promoting and publishing poetry for mental health. Click on the button below for donation options or contact us to sponsor this platform. Thank you!
Poetry for Mental Health
Supporting people with mental health challenges by motivating and inspiring them to write poetry.
"Poetry for Mental Health has supported thousands of people around the world through words and poetry!"
ROBIN BARRATT - Founder POETRY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
I formed
Poetry for Mental Health at the outbreak of COVID, as a way of helping people cope mentally through lockdown and the pandemic by inspiring them to write poetry. Five years, seven books, hundreds of poets, and thousands of pieces of poetry later,
Poetry for Mental Health
is still inspiring people to write poetry for positive mental health! And with around 1600 visitors each and every month, it
is now probably the largest and most visited website of its kind on the net!"
~
"No matter what your age, background and experience, culture or identity; whether an established writer with many published titles to your credit, or an aspiring poet who has never written a word of poetry in your life, our philosophy here is to embrace, welcome and support everyone, everywhere suffering from mental health challenges, and help you cope through words and poetry ... Get writing!"
NEW - This Week's Featured Poetry (x3)
Week commencing Monday 15th December, 2025
WHAT I KNOW
By Rob Sienna
What I know is changeable
A ruby throated sparrow perching on a branch
telling me a thing or two
about what I know
Privately I think
no one can tell
what the future brings
I feel a certain melancholic
moment of despair
weaving through the air
Everything is breaking free
meditations reassure me
I continue on despite
countless problems
gingerly
Sensing healthy intuitions
gathering nearby
all is as it should be
Like a sparrow flying off
considering my song
in spasms before heading
into the sky again
Aligning well getting clear
the honesty between my ears
a righteous well placed bundle
Obstacles show up then fade
they will not diminish
my resolve at any rate
What I know is changeable
feeling that's all right
Quirky as my inner light
winks distinctly
outta sight
ABOUT ROB: Rob is a writer and artist who has suffered first-hand the consequences of the American society’s systemic disconnect with, and mistreatment of the natural world. Rob has studied and taught writing at several universities, and has toured North America as a solo singer-songwriter. His ethos is to investigate, discover and share meaningful, potentially rewarding revelations and spiritual insight - discoveries intended to improve the human condition, help others to manage, to better balance and grow a healthier more vibrant cultural community.
UNTITLED
By Lewie Gentilella
Struggling to get out of bed
A lack of motivation
And a banging head
It's been years of living this hell
Putting on a mask
The one that's served me oh so well
For all these years
My 'normal' mask
It hides all my fears
My alter ego, worthy of an Oscar
An actor and entertainer
The famous imposter
Dedicated to reciting his lines
Perfecting his craft
He's rehearsed this over a thousand times
The show begins
Playing the lead role
He helps to hide all stims
Yet underneath
I'm hyper vigilant
Stressed and grinding teeth
My eyes dart around the room
Feeling anxious
With a sense of impending doom
The lights all blur into one
A tunnel of illumination
All I want to do is run
Hoping they won't catch me out
I sit at my desk
Wanting to scream and shout
Trying hard not to let the mask slip
Can't let them see the real me
But all the voices make me want to flip
Nervously bouncing my leg under the table
Subtly rocking back and forth
I don't want people to think I'm disabled
Finally, I take off the mask
Exhausted and burnt out
Pretending all day is a tiresome task.
Tomorrow, I must do it all over again
But the show must go on
Until I don't know when.
ABOUT LEWIE: Lewie is a 34-year-old amateur writer from Bedford that lives with his wife and two children. He doesn't have any formal training or writing experience; he just writes poetry from his own personal life experiences. His poetry themes around his personal journey with mental health.
UNTITLED
By Sasha Aket
I am going to refrain from showing my pain.
I want to hide my feelings as high as the ceilings.
And every little task, I'll wear a smile, wear a mask.
You don't know the hurt that's deep in my mind,
So be patient with me and please be kind.
Sometimes I just want to scream and shout,
Go to the mountains, let it all out.
People say, don't quit, but that's hard when your life gets s**t.
I'm sick of the anger, I'm drowning off-shore
I really don't want to hide anymore.
ABOUT SASHA: "I'm 33 years old and have no prior experience in writing or poetry - I have just started it a few months back and I find it's like a outlet when I'm struggling; everything I've written is raw, pure and straight from the heart. I struggle with a lot of things and it definitely helps writing poetry."
Lots more Featured Poetry ...
On the themes of mental health, from hundreds of poets around the world.
"Why is poetry so very good for people with mental health challenges? Because it helps them see the world in their own way, and in a way that makes sense to them ..."
Robin Barratt
Our Books
GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS!
Treat yourself, or someone close, to a copy of one of our acclaimed books this Christmas. They make inspirational gifts, all are five star rated at Amazon, and all profits from sales go back into promoting and publishing poetry for mental health. Click on the link below for further details, contents list, and to order a copy from Amazon websites worldwide. Thank you!
"People can benefit from writing poetry because it can take the images and the talk in your head and transfer it to paper. It’s like getting the words out
of your head so that they don’t linger there."
Nadine Dunseith
Personal Journeys
In their own words, writers and poets write about their own personal journey with mental health.
Interviews
Nine amazing writers and poets about their journey with mental health.
Featured Poets
Featuring almost 80 poets around the world, with up to six pieces of their work, and a little about the author and the stories behind their work.
NEW - Featured Books
Promoting books and publications on the themes of mental health.
Articles
Articles about poetry and positive mental health.
Contribute to Poetry for Mental Health
Would you like to showcase your poetry for mental health here on this website, and/or on our Facebook page? Then consider contributing ...
Publishing Services
We publish books for other people too!!!
Would you like to see your poetry collection published as a paperback and Kindle, and available for other people to read around the world? Prices start from just £150.00 for a chapbook / short collection. Click on the link for more info. Plus Promoting Your Book - information and advice for promoting and marketing your book.
Newsletters ...
NEW - Newsletters ONLINE
What's new at Poetry for Mental Health. Our monthly newsletters are now available to read online.
Send us your name and email address and we'll keep you updated with our news and calls for submissions. We'll never send you more than one email a month, or pass your details onto anyone else ... ever!
Other ...
Directory of Support Services
Charities, groups and organisations worldwide offering mental health help and support to people in crisis.
Mental Health First Aid
Identifying warning signs of common mental health crisis, and how to guide a person towards safety and appropriate help. More info ...
“No matter how bad something may seem at that moment in time when you feel all is lost, it can get better if you can only give it more time."
Lynda Tavakoli
NOTE ON CONTRIBUTIONS: We publish mental health poetry from around the world, and for a number contributors to this website, English is not their first language. Unlike some other platforms, we don't heavily edit a poet's own work (if we did, it would then not be their own work!), so please focus on a poet's messages and meanings, and not necessarily on any grammatical mistakes or translated imperfections that may arise within their contribution.
